The general secretary of the drivers’ union, Unite, was outside Stanlow to support his members on the first day of their four-day pay strike.

From the picket line he said: “My members have tried to resolve this dispute for six months but have been unable to do so because of Shell.

“This is not about greedy tanker drivers but about a greedy company that will not pay the right rate for our workers to do a dangerous job. Our members are on the same wages they were in 1992.

“This is not like the 15% that Shell directors gave themselves or like their outrageous profits but £31,500 is not sufficient for our drivers to do the job they do.”

Tony Kirwan, regional industrial organiser for Unite, said that 150 drivers on the night shift had turned out at the start of the dispute at 5.30am but had then returned home leaving between 30-40 men behind to picket outside the Oil Sites Road terminal.

Drivers from other fuel distribution companies arriving at the site this morning have been speaking to pickets and then turning around or parking up.

Mr Kirwan confirmed the strike would continue until Tuesday.

Mr Woodley said that if a settlement had not been reached by then the union would consider further action.

He urged the public not to panic buy at petrol stations.

He said he was available all weekend to talk to Shell.

A Shell UK spokeswoman said: “We are not involved in the pay negotiations between haulage companies and unions.

“We urge both parties to continue working towards finding a resolution.

“We our primary concern is for motorists who might suffer inconvenience as a result of Unite’s actions. We have teams of people working to keep disruption to a minimum.”